Montana 2026 ballot measures

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2028
2024

As of September 30, 2025, zero statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in Montana on November 3, 2026.

Potential

Type Number Title Subject Description
CICA CI-129 2% Annual Increase in Property Valuation Assessment Limit Initiative Property and Taxes Limits the annual increase for property valuation assessments of primary residences to 2% each year
LRCA SB 185 Citizenship Requirement for Voting Amendment Suffrage and Voting policy measures Amends the state constitution to provide that only a U.S. citizen may vote, rather than any citizen
LRCA HB 316 Definition of Person Amendment Abortion Amends the state constitution to provide that the word "person" applies to 'all members of mankind at any stage of development, beginning at the stage of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency" and that "no cause of action may arise as a consequence of harm caused to an unborn baby by an unintentional act of its mother"
LRCA HB 921 Child Pornography and Criminal Racketeering Amendment Sexual content regulations Allows the state and local government to outlaw and punish distribution or receipt of child pornography; allows any person to sue to enjoin an individual that distributes or receives such material in violation of federal racketeering laws
LRCA HB 821 Three-Fifths Supermajority Vote Requirement for Constitutional Initiatives Amendment Ballot measure supermajority requirements Require a three-fifths vote of the electorate rather than a simple majority vote to approve citizen-initiated constitutional amendments
LRCA HB 822 Three-Fifths Supermajority Vote Requirement for Constitutional Referrals Amendment Ballot measure supermajority requirements Require a three-fifths vote of the electorate rather than a simple majority vote to approve legislatively referred constitutional amendments



Getting on the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Montana

Citizen initiatives

In Montana, initiated constitutional amendments, initiated state statutes, and veto referendums can be put on the ballot through citizen signature petitions.

Petitioners were required to file the requisite number of signatures by June 21, 2024, for initiated state statues and initiated constitutional amendments. The law requires signatures for veto referendums to be submitted by six months after the legislature that passed the targeted bill adjourns.

Citizens were required to file at least 60,359 valid signatures for initiated constitutional amendments and at least 30,180 valid signatures for initiated state statutes and veto referendums.

To qualify a measure for the ballot in Montana, supporters submitted signatures directly to county officials, who are responsible for preliminary verification before passing the petition sheets on to the secretary of state by July 19, 2024. Thus, the status of some measures can remain unknown for some time after the signature submission deadline.

Legislative referrals

The Montana Legislature may refer statutes or constitutional amendments to the ballot. Any member of the legislature can propose a statute or amendment. A simple majority is required in both chambers of the state legislature to place a legislatively referred state statute on the ballot. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required of all members of the legislature during one legislative session for the Montana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Since Montana has 150 legislators (100 Representatives and 50 Senators), at least 100 members must vote in favor of a constitutional amendment for it to pass. Section 5 of Article III of the Montana Constitution, along with Montana Code 5-4-301, provides that the governor cannot veto legislatively referred state statutes or stop them from appearing on the ballot. Constitutional amendments do not require the governor's signature.

Historical facts

See also: List of Montana ballot measures

Montana statewide ballot measures

In Montana, a total of 104 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2024. Sixty (60) ballot measures were approved, and 44 ballot measures were defeated.

Montana statewide ballot measures, 1985-2024
Total number Annual average Annual minimum Annual maximum Approved Defeated
# % # %
104
2
2
8
60
57.7%
44
42.3%


Ballot initiative certification rates

See also: Ballot initiatives filed for the 2026 ballot

The following table shows the rate of certification for ballot initiatives in Montana between 2010 and 2024:

Montana statewide ballot initiatives filed and certified, 2010-2024
Year
Ballot initiatives filed
Certified #
Certified %
2010
26
3
11.5%
2012
10
2
20.0%
2014
18
0
0.0%
2016
24
4
16.7%
2018
16
2
12.5%
2020
14
2
14.3%
2022
43
0
0.0%
2024
14
3
21.4%
Averages
21
2
12.1%

See also

Alabama

See also

Wyoming